Means for and method of controlling alternating currents



A. D. EITZEN 1,752,944

MEANS FOR AND METHOD OF CONTROLLING ALTERNATING GURRENTS April 1, 1930.

Filed April 24. 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet l ,J E. A%r

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April 1, 1 930. EITZEN 1,752,944

MEANS FOR AND METHOD OF CONTROLLING ALTERNATING CURRENTS Filed April 24. 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 72 7 44 i vmvrok.

Patented Apr. 1, 1930 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE AUGUST D. EITZEN, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

Application filed April 24,

My invention relates to improvements in means for and methods of controlling alternating currents in a constant potential system and has for its object to control the flow 5 and volume of the current passing through a translating device, such as an electrically heated flatiron, percolator, wafile iron or the like, in a simple manner by means of an auto-transformer connected in the line. It 1 further has for its object to control the current passing through a heating element without the use of ohmic resistance and without varying the resistance of the heating element. My invention further has for its object to produce an improved means for controlling and varying the alternating current passing through a translating device in an eflicient and economical manner.

The following is a description of an embodiment of my invention and carrying out my improved method, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which,

Fig. 1 shows diagrammatically a system embodying my means and operating in accordance with my method;

Fig. 2 is a plan view of a switch used in carrying out my invention;

Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the switch, in partial section, on the line 3-3, Fig. 2;

Fig. 4, shows, in partial section, my controlling means permanently installed in a side wall;

Fig. 5 is a front elevation of the face plate of the same;

Fig. 6 shows my controlling means embodicd in portable form, part of the casing being broken away; and

Fig. 7 is a plan view showing the face of the casing of the same.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, 10 is a source of constant potential al ternating current from which lead mains 12 and 14. 16 is an auto-transformer having a laminated closed circuited magnetic core 18 and an energizing coil 20. The terminal 22 of this coil is positively, i. e. permanently connected to the main 14. I term this terminal 22 the incoming terminal. The other terminal 24 1 term the outgoing terminal. The coil is preferably made in sections as 1928. Serial No. 272,554.

shown in Figs. 4 and 6 and is provided with intermediate taps 26, 28 and 30, which, when the coil as a whole is in circuit, are of successively decreasing potential in the order named. 32 is a translatingdevice having a heating element 34 and being represented here as a flatiron. One lead of the element 34 is permanently connected to the main 14, the other lead being free to be connected to a contact leading to the main 12 or to other 6 contacts. 36 is a switch mechanism having in one plane two contacts 38 and 40 with which a plate-like switch arm 42 is adapted to engage. 44, 46, 48 and 50 are other switch contacts lying in a different plane from the contacts 38 and 40 with which a switch arm 52 is adapted to successively engage. The contacts 40 and 44 are common to both series, being connected together by a conductor 54. The switcharms 42 and 52 are actuated by a common shaft 56 and are insulated from one another by insulation as shown at 58. The switch arm 52 is electrically connected to a binding post 60 at all times, being in rubbing contact therewith, as shown in Fig. 3.

The contacts 40 and 44 are electrically connected to the main 12 by the conductor 62. The contacts 46, 48 and 50 are electrically connected, respectively, to the taps 26, 28 and 30, and the binding post 60 is connected to the lead 64 of the work circuit, the other work circuit lead 66 being connected to the incoming terminal 22 and main 14. The handle of the switch is provided with a pointer 68 indicating the positions of the switch with reference to the indicating numerals 1, 2, 3,

4 and 5 carried by the cover of the switch, as shown in Fig. 2.

When the pointer 68 points toward the cover. numeral5, the switch is in oif-position, 9 the arms 42 and 52 being then out of engagement with any contact. When the pointer 68 points to the cover numeral 1, the parts of the switch mechanism are in the position shown in Figs. 1 and 2. Under those conditions the switch arm 52 engages the contact 44 and is thus in electrical connection with the main 12. This connects the work lead 64 with the conductor 12 and the other work lead being always connected to the main 14 tact 46, with the result that the auto-transformer is connected directly across the mains 12 and 14 and three-quarters of the coil is connected in series with the heating element 34, so that the potenial impressed upon that coil is three-quarters of the full potenial and the current flowing through it is reduced accordingly. When the switcharm 52 is in position 3, it is in engagement with the switch contacts 48 and the switch arm 42 still connects the contacts 38 and 40 as to maintain the coil of the transformer across the main and the potenial impressed uponthework circuitis one-half of the original potential so that the current flowing through the heating element is reduced accordingly. When the switch arm 52 is in position 4,,it engages the contact 50 and the potential'an'd current through the heating element is in a-similar manner cut down 'to a quarter of the original potenial of the mains, and when the pointer 68 points to the position 5 the arm 42 is out of engagement with the contact 40, so that the transformer is disconnected from' one of the mains. vThe switch arm. 52 is at that time also disconnected from one of the mains so that no current flows through the heating element. As a matter of fact in the construction shown, when the pointer 68points toward the position 5 the switch arm 42 does not make engagement with any switch con.- tact and the switch arm 52 does not make any engagement with any contact, and this is the preferred construction.

.QIn'the operation of my apparatus from ofi-positiomthe first movement of the switch is one connecting the work'circuit across the 1 mains of the source of supply. On subsequent movementof the switch the connectionin one lead of-the work-circuit is broken and substantially simultaneously therewith the auto-transformer coil is connected acrossthe mains and the free terminal of said work circuit is connected to an intermediate point in the coil. Upon the next movement of the switch the free terminal of said work circuit is connected to another intermediate point in the coil of decreased potenia'hthe auto-transfomer being maintained connected across-the mains, and on the succeeding operation of the switch said lead of the work circuit is connected successively. to points on said coil of decreasing potenial until the switch reaches open position, represented by the cover numeral 5.

- My invention ma be embodied in station- 7 ary'form or porta 1e form; Fig. 4 represents the stationary form, in whichthe auto transformer and controllmg switches are mounted in a wall recess with "the mains,

a portable case 74 havinga cover 76 through which the switch 36 protrudes and provided with a separable coupling member 78. This portable member is provided with a flexible cord 80 carrying theusnal connecting member 82 for insertion in a plug screwed into the ordinary lamp socket (not shown). The plug on the cord of the translating device is inserted in the member 7 8 so as to connect the usual flatiron orother translating device to the circuit through the combined auto-transformer switch, thus'permitting the use of my invention embodied in-a portable device.

The switch 36 is preferably a quick makeand-break rotary switch having a snap action, for producing which action various mechanisms may be employed.

As will be evident totthose skilled in the art, my invention permits or various modifications without departing from the spirit thereof or the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim is: r

1. In a current controller for alternating currents, an auto-transformer having incoming and outgoing terminals and intermediate taps, conductors for positively connecting the incoming terminal to one main of the source of supply and to one lead of a work circuit, and a unitary switch mechanism having means for connecting the other lead ofsaid work circuit to the other. main, and then successively connecting said other lead to said taps one at a time, and means connecting the outgoing terminal of said auto-transformer withthe second main substantially. simulta- 1 neously with the connection of the first tap, and maintaining the connection between said outgoing terminal and second main during the connection of said other lead with said other taps.

2. .In a current currents, an auto-transformerhaving incoming and outgoing terminals and intermediate taps, conductors for positively connecting the incoming terminal to one main of thesource controller for alternating of supply and to one lead of a work circuit, f

and a unitary switch mechanism having means for connecting the other lead of said work circuit to the other main, and then successively connecting said other lead to said tap one at a time, and means for connecting the outgoing terminal of said auto-transformer with the second main substantially simultaneously with the connectionof the first tap and maintaining the connection between said outgoing terminaleand second main during the connection of the other taps, the p0 tential of the successive taps decreasing S1Ic waaeae cessively, and a common shaft actuating both of said connecting means.

3. In a current controller for alternating currents, an auto-transformer having incoming andoutgoing terminals and intermediate taps, conductors for positively connecting the incoming terminal to one main of the source of supply and to one lead of a work circuit, and a unitary switch mechanism having. means for connecting the other lead of said. work circuit to the other main, and then successively connecting said other lead with said taps, one at a time, and means for connecting the outgoing terminal of said auto-transformer with the second main substantially simultaneously with the connection of the first tap and maintaining the connection between said outgoing terminal and second main during the connection of the other taps, the potential of the successive taps decreasing successively, and a common shaft actuating both of said connecting means, said second connecting means being out of connection with one of said mains when said first means is either connected to said second main or has broken the connection with the tap of lowest potential. v

4. In a current controller for alternating currents, an auto-transformer having incoming and outgoing terminals and intermediate taps, means for positively connecting the incoming terminal to one main of the supply and to one lead of a work circuit, and a unitary switch mechanism having a series of contacts, a switch arm adapted to engage said mains of the source of supply, then substantially simultaneously breaking said connection in one work lead of said work circuit,

connecting an auto-transformer coil across the mains and connecting said work circuit lead to an intermediate point in said coil, and then connecting said lead to successive points in said coil of successively decreasing potential while said auto-transformer is connected across the mains, and then disconnecting said auto-transformer from one of said mains.

7. In a current controller for alternating currents, an auto-transformer having incoming and outgoing terminals and intermediate taps, conductors for connecting an incoming terminal to one main of the source of supply and to one lead of a work circuit, and a switch mechanism for connecting the other lead of said work circuit to the other main, for successively connecting said other lead to said taps one at a time, and for connecting the other incoming terminal of said auto-transformer to the second main, and maintaining the connection between said last named terminal and the second main during the connection of said other lead with said other taps. 7

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification this 23d day of April, 1928.

AUGUST D. EITZEN.

contacts successively, one at a time, and two other contacts lying outside the plane of said series, one of which is electrically connected to the first contact of said series, and means rotating with said switch arm for electrically connecting said two other contacts after said switch arm has passed said first contact and maintaining them electrically connected when said switch arm is in engagement with the other contacts of said series, said switch arm' and means being insulated'from one another and actuated by a common shaft, the contacts of said series being connected to taps from the coil of said transformer.

5. The method of controlling an alternating current in a work circuit, which consists in connecting the work circuit across the mains of the source of supply, then substantially simultaneously breaking said connec-' tion in one work lead of said work circuit,

connecting an auto-transformer coil across the mains'and connecting said work circuit lead to an intermediate point in said coil, and

then connecting said lead to successive points in said 0011 of successively decreasing potential while said auto-transformer is connected across the mains. a

6. The method of controlling an alternating current in a work clrcuit, which consists in connecting the work circuit across the 

